April 9 Business Ins & Outs
• April 11, 2014

In: After Peacock Room, a cafe with coffees and teas with pastries and savory light meals, at 2622 P St., NW; open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The design and name of the restaurant is a homage to James Whistler’s “Harmony of Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room.” The actual room is at the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery on the National Mall.

In: Simply Banh Mi, specializing in “Fresh Vietnamese Baguette Sandwiches,” newly arrived at 1624 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

In: Another frozen yogurt place, Little Penguin at 3001 M St., NW, is now open and also offers fresh yogurt. The space used to be an IceBerry shop.

In Soon: Ike Behar, a men’s clothing store with beginnings in Cuba and headquarters in Miami, is coming to 2900 M St., NW.

In: Roosters Men’s Grooming Center, 1815 Wisconsin Ave., NW, is now open. “We believe you deserve to have a space of your own to relax while you get a haircut and a shave,” the company says. It is near Safeway and Jos. A. Bank and occupies 1,400 square feet.
Roosters’s motto is “The Classic American Barbershop for the 21st Century Man.” Go and check ‘em out, guys.

In and More: Il Canali Restaurant at 1063 31st St., NW, is expanding to the space left vacant by Cannon’s Seafood Market.
Out: Capitol Prague Restaurant at 3277 M St., NW, has closed. The Eastern European eatery made its debut in May 2013.

Congratulations: to the T.H.E. Artist Agency, celebrating 29 years and for bringing style to Georgetown and Washington, D.C. [gallery ids="101696,143926,143922" nav="thumbs"]

Business Ins & Outs, March 26
• March 27, 2014

Forever 21 Coming to M Street

The clothing and accessories megastore Forever 21 will come to M Street in the Georgetown Park storefront spaces, according to the Washington Business Journal. The 20,000 square-foot space was once occupied by H&M, which moved to larger digs a few doors down. The New York Times described Forever 21 as “Faster Fashion, Cheaper Chic.”

D.C.’s first Forever 21 is in the old Woodie’s building on F Street downtown. The Georgetown store will be Forever 21’s second D.C. location. The company boasts more than 480 locations.

The reconstructed retail space known as Georgetown Park – formerly an interior shopping mall – was “quickly becoming a destination for bargain shoppers,” noted the Business Journal, which called it “the epicenter of bargains in tiny Georgetown.” Also cited were H&M, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods and the soon-to-open DSW.

IN: 7-Eleven at Wisconsin and O

The convenience store 7-Eleven quietly opened two weeks ago at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street. It is Georgetown’s second 7-Eleven. In response to objections from some neighbors, the store design is low-key. The other Georgetown 7-Eleven is at 2617 P St., NW.

The 1344 Wisconsin Ave., NW, location is best known as the place owned by Harry “Doc” Dalinsky, who ran the Georgetown Pharmacy. After more than a century in operation, the pharmacy closed in 1988. Dalinsky died in 1992.

IN: Little Birdies Boutique on P Street

“We’re now open for business,” reports Shanlee Johnson, owner of Little Birdies Boutique at 3236 P St., NW. She describes the new store as a place that “offers an array of children’s new and consigned clothing, accessories and affordable luxury items.” Some of these are fine arts for children and D.C.-inspired gifts. Stop by with the little ones and say, “Welcome to the neighborhood.”

IN: Aroche online boutique

Aroche is a new online shoe and accessories boutique founded by fashion businessman Alvaro Roche and marketer Elsa Arcila. Roche has designed shoes for Gianfranco Ferré. He also founded EPK, which sells children’s clothing. Roche runs the business out of his Georgetown home for now and hopes to set up shop later.

Calypso St. Barth Opens
• February 13, 2014

The Georgetown shop of Calypso St. Barth — a “women’s & home store” — opened Feb. 7 at 3307 M St., NW. Calypso St. Barth was founded in 1992 as a modest resort-wear luxury brand. Since then, the boutique has grown into a luxury lifestyle brand. The high-end clothing store features pieces with rich textures, exotic colors and embellishments that appeal to modern women consumers.

INS & OUTS
• January 29, 2014

Out: Heiner Contemporary Arts at 1675
Wisconsin Ave., NW, departed artsy Book Hill
row early this month. The art gallery, run
by Margaret Heiner since 2011, decamps to
Farmington, Conn., where Heiner’s husband
moved to be a museum curator. The gallery
continues to exists as a website.

Out: The French Apartment, known for
its one-of-a-kind vintage furniture, at 1671
Wisconsin Ave., NW, will be the end of January.
Owner Kathleen McGarrah may continue her
business online. Check TheFrenchApartment.
com.

In: Hill & Dale Record Parlor in Canal
Square — in the former Parrish Gallery space
— with a Feb. 7 grand opening as well as an
exhibit by rock photographer Peter Simon. It
sells vinyl records, rock music posters, artwork
and photographs.

IN: UTB Boutique at 3147 Dumbarton
St., NW, next to the Bank of America parking
lot, has replaced the western wear shop. It sells
“sexy wear,” “romance baskets” and other adult
items. Its website — UnderneathTheBed.com —
is for those over 18 years of age. Be sure to see
the “Rub My Duckie” toy.

7-Eleven on Wisconsin Avenue Closer to Completion
• January 23, 2014

While objected to by some neighbors, the convenience store 7-Eleven at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street erected its low-key signage and moved closer to completion. It is expected to open in March.

It will be Georgetown’s second 7-Eleven and will be located in the historically significant building, which housed clothing or antique stores in recent years.

The 1344 Wisconsin Ave., NW, location is best known as the place owned by Harry “Doc” Dalinsky who ran the Georgetown Pharmacy. After more than century in operation, the pharmacy closed in 1988. Dalinsky died in 1992.

The Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission sought to keep store designs low-key and appropriate to the neighborhood, and the Old Georgetown Board agreed. Nearby architect Robert Bell — who purchased the Georgetown Theater property across the street — found the original designs for the store “degrading to the historic character of the building.”

The other Georgetown shop is at 2617 P St., NW.

Condos at Canal and Wisconsin Avenue for Sale in 2014
• January 6, 2014

1055 High, an EastBanc condo project on Wisconsin Avenue between Grace Church and the C&O Canal, will begin selling in January. There are seven units at 1055 Wisconsin Ave., NW, which have a price range of $3 to $5 million, and include two parking spaces, a balcony and three or four bedrooms. The project is named for one of Wisconsin Avenue’s earlier names: High Street. 1055 High’s rooftop will hold a pool and patio. Units should be ready by the end of 2014.

Donghia, Luxe Home Furnisher, Moves to Cady’s Alley Jan. 1
•

Donghia — which specializes in decorative fabrics and furniture — is relocating its home furnishings design trade showroom from the Washington Design Center to Cady’s Alley in the 3,413-square-foot retail property currently occupied by home furnishings retailer M2L. Donghia will “establish a new, permanent home in Cady’s Alley and will move into its showroom Jan. 1, with a grand opening slated for late spring,” according to property managers EastBanc, Inc., and Jamestown, which announced a 10-year lease by Donghia to occupy retail space in its Georgetown Renaissance property at 3334 Cady’s Alley, NW.

Georgetown Business Association Celebrates Awardees, 2013
•

The Georgetown Business Association held its annual meeting and holiday reception Dec. 11 at Dumbarton House — along with remarks by business leaders and politicians and its awards presentation.

Karen Daly of Dumbarton House welcomed the overflow crowd, as Joel Bennett and Janine Schoonover of the GBA summed up the year’s accomplishments. Ward 2 council member Jack Evans spoke of the economic health and dynamism of Georgetown and the District overall. At-large council members Vincent Orange and David Grosso also addressed the crowd, and another council member, Muriel Bowser, was on hand.

As for the awards: Tom Russo of Chadwick’s was named business person of the year and Cannon’s Fish Market business of the year. Metropolitan Police Department officers Robert Anderson III and Jonathan Geer earned the Joe Pozell Public Safety Award, while the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s John Wiebenson and the BID Clean Team received the Art Schultz Communitarian Award.

Later, during the reception, Mayor Vincent Gray arrived to give the crowd a hearty welcome. Also in attendance were Ron Lewis, Ed Solomon and Bill Starrels, members of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, which represents Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale. The GBA’s top officials were re-elected: Riyad Said, president; Janine Schoonover, vice president; Karen Ohri, treasurer; Molly Quigley, secretary.

Bobby Moore of Cannon’s Seafood (business of the year) with Bill Starrels and Zubair Popal.

A New Cool: the George Town Club
• November 26, 2013

You can see that the next generation is taking over at the George Town Club. You can see the changes in the windows that now shine in light through the first floor’s new design. You can even see that the club wants to be your second home. Call it the new cool or the club gets its groove back.

“We have carefully re-invented the George Town Club,” said designer Andrew Law of the elegant in-town club, known for its members involved in politics, diplomacy, business, academia and other professions. Founded in 1966 and rich in stories, the club of late had fallen flat but has undergone a design, culinary and leadership renewal that is attracting new members to the corner property at 1530 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

“The club feels relevant again,” said designer Deborah Winsor, who with others worked on the club over the summer. Sisal rugs brighten up a few of the rooms 10 in total — and linen fabric are used on walls to show off antique woodwork. During the rehab and carpenters’ work, insor moved and re-purposed furniture and then moved artwork from downstairs and hung new and contemporary art from Hemphill Gallery.

entrance door open to all of the first floor allows guests to glance from the entrance to the windows on Volta Place in the Grill — where simply, again, removing the drapery blocking the windows made the room appear new.

“Demographics are changing,” said club treasurer John Girouard. “If you don’t change, you’ll die. Just last week, we had 20 new applicants.”

There are more than 100 new members an amount ever increasing. Girouard is thinking management’s increased efficiency and quality control along with targeting the 30
to 50 demographic. There is new programming for the club’s calendar and talk of “date night,” where children are watched in one room while parents dine upstairs.

The Grill Room is the highlight right now, showing off the club’s new cool. The Reading Room and Living Room have been redone. Other rooms will undergo design changes.
The club’s general manager is Yann Henrotte with chef Martin Galicia making up the new menu. Working on the changes have been Law, Winsor, Girouard, along with George Town Club President Sharon Casey, Vice President Lynn Doran and Elizabeth Miller as well as restaurateur Bo Blair with his wife Meghan.

It was the club’s longtime leader Wyatt Dickerson, he of Pisces fame during the 1970s and ‘80s, and partner with the scandalous Tongsun Park, that recommended Bo Blair, he with the younger generation’s guest lists and of nearby Smith Point and elsewhere.

The club wants to be a place for Georgetowners to stop by for coffee before work or relax after work, not just a spot for suburban visitors. One member said he wanted more of a “Cheers” effect for young and old alike, classy but not stand-offish.

To that end, for example, the club is offering a reduced initiation fee for residents of $2,000 (monthly dues, $150; quarterly minimum of $240). Preview membership waives the initiation fee for one year. Those younger than age 35 can join for $750. There are also on-resident and international memberships with lower fees; foreign diplomats accredited to the U.S., O.A.S. or the U.N. are offered free memberships.

The club is open Monday through Saturday but plans to be open also on Sunday sometime in 2014. The club held several get-togethers to promote its new look and vibe. Here are a few photos taken at the George Town Club recently. [gallery ids="101547,149606,149616,149600,149608,149613,149619" nav="thumbs"]

E-commerce Businesses Set Up Shop in Cady’s Alley Bazaar
• November 25, 2013

With shopping occurring before Thanksgiving and Hanukkah and just in time for Christmas, property owner EastBanc and Jamestown organized a pop-up Cady’s Alley bazaar that features five e-commerce firms, which were happy to set up shop in the 8,000-square-foot, split-level emporium, located at 3330 Cady’s Alley, NW, between the Bulthaup and M2L showrooms within Georgetown’s design district. A Nov. 14 launch party introduced the clothing and home accessories brands: Tuckernuck (classic, preppy styles), Chubbies (radical shorts with American pride), Zestt (fresh home pieces and artwork), Read Wall (U.S.-modern, traditional menswear) and Victoria Road (handcrafted goods from around the world). The pop-up stores in Cady’s Alley will be open through Jan. 5. [gallery ids="101550,149573,149567,149579,149586,149587" nav="thumbs"]